Two thousand years of vines, one estate.

The story of Château Vignelaure - Roman roots, the pioneer of Cabernet in Provence, and the vintages that mark the years.

~100 BC
Roman roots

Vines have been cultivated here for over 2,000 years - archaeologists found a large 1st-century-BC Roman winegrowing site just east of Vignelaure.

Late 1960s
The estate is founded

Georges Brunet, former owner of Château La Lagune (Cru Classé, Haut-Médoc), builds the estate. First named Saint Estève, then renamed Château Vignelaure - the vine of Laure, muse of the poet Petrarch.

1966
First plantings

Cabernet Sauvignon grafts from Château La Lagune make Vignelaure the pioneer of Cabernet in Provence; Syrah and Grenache follow, to be blended with the Cabernet.

1970
First vintage

The first wine - vinified in red only - is an immediate success.

1972
The rock cellar & art gallery

An impressive cellar is carved from the limestone rock: stainless-steel tanks, an underground storehouse of oak casks, and an art gallery. Brunet, an art lover, begins the estate's tradition of art and wine.

1972
Trévallon is born

Eloi Dürrbach vinifies at Vignelaure for two years; inspired by the Cabernet-Syrah blend, he goes on to found Domaine de Trévallon in the Baux-de-Provence.

1992
First rosé

The estate vinifies its first rosé - the Provençal colour joins the range.

1994-2007
The O'Brien years

Among three successive owners, David O'Brien - son of the legendary Irish racehorse trainer Vincent O'Brien - stewards the estate.

2007
The Sundstrøm era

Mette and Bengt Sundstrøm buy the estate. A major restructuring begins: first white varieties planted, conversion to organic farming, and small stainless-steel tanks installed to refine grape selection.

2013
First white vinification

The estate completes its range in three colours with its first white wine.

Today
An exciting new chapter begins.

Our wines continue to be enjoyed in over 30 Michelin-starred restaurants, and are sold in over 15 countries. From summer 2026, an exciting new chapter in our story begins...

The Name

Vignelaure - the vine of Laure, muse of the poet Petrarch. Chosen by Georges Brunet to set the estate apart from the Médoc.

Terroir

Soil, aspect, climate

Vines in the AOC Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence - limestone soils, warm Provençal days and cool nights, farmed organically since the Sundstrøm era. The estate is worked parcel by parcel, and our wines carefully crafted by our master winemaker.